Dethroned the Crown Princess? Then she became your mother

Nanny Qin also focused her gaze on the Empress Dowager and called softly, "Empress Dowager."

The Queen Mother waved her hand gently and said calmly, "It's okay."

"Reporting to the Queen Mother, the Emperor has ordered that this matter be handed over to the Crown Prince. When the Crown Prince's condition improves, the matter of the Crown Princess will be handed over at the same time." The guard who returned to the palace to report answered respectfully.

Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother nodded slightly and said, "Oh, the Emperor wants to hand this matter over to the Crown Prince for disposal." There seemed to be a barely perceptible hint of relief in her words.

After all, the Crown Prince should ultimately lead the affairs of the Eastern Palace. However, while handing this matter over to the Crown Prince makes sense, it also raises questions: When will the Crown Prince recover? He deeply loves the Crown Princess, willing to risk everything for her. How will he handle this?

The Queen Mother sighed inwardly. The Crown Prince's choice of a consort was truly astonishing. They hadn't seen the full extent of this at first, and now, thinking back, they were all shortsighted.

If there were other reasonable explanations for this, perhaps people would feel a little relieved. But the reality is that this is not the case.

Seeing this, Nanny Qin called out softly again, "Empress Dowager."

The Queen Mother came to her senses and said calmly, "Well, let's see how the Crown Prince will deal with the palace maids the Emperor has given him." The mention of those palace maids made the Queen Mother worried. They had returned to the capital with the Crown Prince and had been serving him constantly. Would this have any impact on this matter?

Upon hearing this, Nanny Qin nodded slightly and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, the palace maids have always been following the Crown Prince." She seemed to have sensed the Empress Dowager's worries and tried to comfort her.

The Queen Mother sighed softly: "Forget it, did the Emperor mention when he would return to the palace?"

Nanny Qin looked at the guard who had returned to the palace. The guard quickly replied, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has not yet mentioned a specific date for his return."

The Queen Mother's heart was filled with mixed emotions upon hearing this. Today? Tomorrow? When exactly would they depart?

Meanwhile, the Empress was anxiously awaiting news in the palace. As soon as her men returned, the Emperor revealed everything about the Crown Princess in the Eastern Palace, asking her to investigate the matter in detail upon her return. He also sent men to the Eastern Palace to gather information.

After all, they had been away from the capital for so long, leaving the Crown Princess alone in the East Palace. What had happened in the East Palace during this long period? Who knew?

Especially when she learned that the Crown Princess was pregnant, the Queen was filled with anxiety. She knew that if this matter was not handled properly, it would cause an uproar.

The Queen frowned and angrily shouted, "This Crown Princess is so stupid!"

Upon hearing this, the maidservant beside her quickly echoed, "That's right, Queen, you're pregnant with a stillborn baby and you don't know how to find a solution."

The Queen shook her head and sighed, "Actually, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess can't be blamed entirely. The Crown Princess was helpless, and she probably thought it would be better this way. Unfortunately, things didn't go as she wished."

She knew full well that the Emperor had already ascertained the truth, and as Empress Dowager, she must shoulder this responsibility. She was about to return to the palace and immediately dispatch personnel to the Eastern Palace to thoroughly investigate the matter.

In another palace, Zhang Tianai was arranging personnel to visit her grandmother. However, when she found that the emperor had not yet returned to the palace, she couldn't help but feel a little suspicious.

Sister Xianfei still stayed in the palace. She asked Zhang Tianai, "Sister Liangfei, have you sent anyone to visit that talented lady He?"

Zhang Tianai nodded slightly upon hearing this. "Of course I've already sent someone." She took a sip of her juice, but she was secretly wondering: Did Concubine Xian send someone too? Why hadn't she received any news?

Seeing this, Concubine Xian smiled and said, "It seems we are of the same mind. Concubine He has also sent a palace maid to express her gratitude."

Zhang Tianai's confusion grew even more pronounced upon hearing this: she hadn't received any news from He Cairen. Could it be that He Cairen didn't know of her existence? But then she thought, since she was already in the garden, it wouldn't be difficult for He Cairen to find out if she wanted to. Why hadn't she sent anyone?

"Ms. He is still unable to get off the bed," the virtuous concubine continued.

"Can't get off the bed? It seems this is not groundless." Zhang Tianai murmured to herself. She thought of He Cairen's personal visit to the emperor, and her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

After a while, Zhang Tianai finally decided to send someone to the emperor to inform him of the news that her grandmother was about to leave Beijing.

Murong Shuo was waiting in the palace. Upon hearing the news, he thought something big had happened. When he learned that it was just the old lady of the Weiyuan Marquisate who was leaving the capital, he said calmly, "If you want to go back, go back. She's back and is in this garden. It would be inconvenient for her to stay."

At this time, Eunuch An walked in cautiously with a whisk in hand and said softly, "Your Majesty, I have found some clues."

Murong Shuo perked up when he heard this: "Oh? Tell me about it."

Eunuch An reported the clues he had found one by one. It turned out that the news had been leaked by a palace official, but no one knew who first spread it. Some said it was someone close to Concubine Shu, while others said it was someone close to Concubine Wu.

Murong Shuo frowned upon hearing this. "How did Concubine Shu find out about this? And Concubine Wu, why is she involved? Let's not talk about Concubine Shu for now, but Concubine Wu..."

He looked at Eunuch An, his eyes full of suspicion.

Upon seeing this, Eunuch An quickly explained, "I have investigated and discovered that this matter is quite complicated. The palace servants passed the message to each other, and this is what ultimately led to this outcome."

Murong Shuo's suspicions were reinforced upon hearing this. He knew full well that the people in the palace were no ordinary people. They would resort to any means necessary to achieve their goals.

"Then who do you think is responsible for this?" Murong Shuo asked tentatively.

Upon hearing this, Eunuch An hurriedly shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, I don't know. I asked someone to investigate this." He knew very well that this matter concerned the secrets of the palace, and if he was not careful, he would get into trouble.

However, Murong Shuo's doubts did not dissipate. He recalled that Concubine Liang had mentioned revenge to him, and he became even more suspicious of her involvement. But on second thought, he felt that this matter was quite strange.

"Perhaps the Crown Prince also wants me to suspect Consort Liang," Murong Shuo muttered to himself. He knew the Crown Prince's intentions and tactics, and knew he would protect the Crown Princess at all costs. But now, this matter had implicated the safety and stability of the entire palace. He had to quickly uncover the truth to prevent the situation from escalating further.

"Your Majesty, it is my incompetence. It is truly my fault." Eunuch An held a whisk in his hand, and with a sway of his body, he knelt on the ground, his forehead lightly touching the cold stone slab, making a dull sound.

His kneeling didn't move Murong Shuo. "What good is this? Even if you kowtow like crazy, it won't change the current situation. Further investigation at this point might not yield any results."

Eunuch An's head was still lowered, not daring to raise it at all, as if this could alleviate his guilt.

-

Meanwhile, Zhang Tianai's men had reported the situation to the Emperor, and Concubine Xian left with Mu Wanwan. Zhang Tianai didn't have to wait long; the Emperor quickly responded, allowing her to escort her grandmother back to the palace. She then instructed a servant to inform her grandmother that she would be arriving shortly.

Her mind flashed back to her second sister, Zhang Tianci, and the fate of the Crown Princess. Zhang Tianai couldn't help but ask again, "Is the Emperor investigating this matter?"

Nanny Li lowered her eyes and said calmly, "No news yet."

Zhang Tianai sighed softly, "What could the Emperor possibly find out? And who could he possibly find out? There are many people in this garden with many different opinions, and there are many who harbor dissatisfaction with the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. Even I find it difficult to fathom their true nature."

She knew in her heart that this news was only known to those closest to her. With this thought in mind, she looked at Matron Li, a look of determination in her eyes.

"That's true." Nanny Li finally raised her head, a hint of recognition flashing in her eyes.

Afterwards, Zhang Tianai and Nanny Li set off for her grandmother's residence. Old Lady Yuan, the Marquis of Weiyuan, was chatting with Nanny Yu. Seeing her granddaughter arrive, she smiled in a scornful manner, but could hardly conceal her joy.

"Why did you come here specially, kid? Aren't you tired from all this trouble?" Yuan's eyes gently swept over Zhang Tianai's abdomen, full of concern.

Zhang Tianai held her grandmother's hand tightly, her smile as warm as ever: "Grandma, you are leaving, how can I not come and see you off? Isn't this trip all about visiting your granddaughter?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan felt a surge of warmth in her heart, but she also understood her granddaughter's concerns. "Grandma is fine, really. You don't have to worry. Don't overwork yourself when you get back. Just ask about everything. There are some things that even Grandma is worried about, but she can't change them. They won't listen to Grandma, they only want to listen to her own wishes."

Zhang Tianai gently shook her grandmother's hand, her tone pleading: "Grandma, promise me, sometimes, the more you do, the more mistakes you make. You just need to ask about it occasionally. I also know that my father and others won't listen to you easily. But if I say a few more words, they may realize their mistakes. But, Grandma, you must promise me."

She turned to look at Nanny Yu, her eyes revealing a request, hoping that she could take care of her grandmother. Although Nanny Yu did not say anything, Yuan had read the answer from her granddaughter's determined eyes.

Finally, Yuan sighed softly and nodded: "Okay, grandma promises you."

Zhang Tianai felt relieved and immediately ordered the people escorting his grandmother back home to be extremely cautious and not to reveal their whereabouts. The palace maids and guards respectfully agreed.

Zhang Tianai watched her grandmother's carriage drift away until it disappeared from her sight. Only then did she slowly turn around. However, while turning around was easy, the worry in her heart was hard to dispel. She worried that her grandmother would break her promise and come into conflict with her stepmother and father upon her return.

Just as her thoughts were racing, Nanny Li gently soothed her, "Master, don't worry too much. The old lady knows her limits and will act with caution when she returns."

Chunmei also echoed: "Yes, Master."

Zhang Tianai nodded gently, suppressing the uneasiness in her heart: "Let's go, let's go back."

Soon after returning to his residence, Murong Shuo appeared and asked if the old lady of Weiyuan Marquis had left. After Zhang Tianai's brief reply, she was curious about the emperor's next words.

"I also want to return to the capital, back to the palace. You..." There was a hint of hesitation in Murong Shuo's words.

Zhang Tianai keenly grasped this point: "Now? Return to Beijing immediately?"

Murong Shuo nodded slightly.

"Then let's go." Zhang Tianai stood up without hesitation, holding her abdomen with her hands, looking ready.

Seeing this, Murong Shuo stepped forward and supported her personally, his gaze lingering on her for a moment.

"What is the emperor looking at?" Zhang Tianai noticed his gaze and asked curiously.

"Nothing." Murong Shuo quickly turned his eyes away, unwilling to say more.

Zhang Tianai didn't ask any further questions.

-

Meanwhile, the Queen Mother, the Empress, and others, upon hearing that someone had left the garden, grew curious and began to inquire about the matter. Rumors arose that the Emperor was sending someone to investigate certain rumors.

"Has the emperor found out anything?" the empress dowager asked anxiously.

"It seems that there is no definite news yet." The person who reported answered cautiously.

After learning that the emperor was about to return to the palace, everyone prepared to follow him.